“A recent report by Ceres and the Pacific Institute evaluates water-related risks to eight water-intensive sectors: technology, beverage, food, electric power/energy, apparel, pharmaceuticals, forest products and mining. Our conclusion is that each of these sectors faces serious near-and long-term economic risks related to their water dependence.
“For example, silicon chips, the backbone of our information economy, require huge amounts of highly purified water to produce. Yet, 11 of the 14 largest semiconductor factories in the world are located in the Asia-Pacific region where water shortages, and water quality risks, are already squeezing industry.
“The beverage industry also faces enormous risks. Coca-Cola and PepsiCo bottling plants lost ground water operating licenses in India because of water shortages. Beverage companies, like Nestlé Waters, are facing strong community opposition from Maine to California over plans for building new bottling plants — all because of water supply concerns.
“Seventy percent of global water is used by agriculture, and water scarcity is forcing up the cost of food. Rice prices soared last year when a six-year drought caused rice production in Australia to plummet 98 percent. The global rice shortage sparked hording and riots in African and Asian nations dependent on the staple.
http://www.reliableplant.com/article.aspx?articleid=18947&pagetitle=Diminishing+water+supplies+creating+profound+business+risk
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